Before & After: Low Point of Comparison
Low Point
The Spurs are in desperate need of some revitalization. Last week saw them go 1-2 to a bucket of Eastern Conference foes that were among the bottom-feeders fighting for scraps. Heading into the week following the All-Star game it was only natural to expect the Spurs to roll through the competition and close the Rodeo Roadtrip on a high note heading into this week. With the Indiana Pacers (14th), Detroit Pistons (11th), and Philadelphia 76ers (10th) even Charles Barkley had written of this week. After the Spurs’ undressing of the Denver Nuggets the Thursday before All-Star Weekend, the cast on TNT broke down the upcoming schedule for the Spurs. As far as they were concerned, the Spurs were on a four-game winning streak.
Unfortunately, this was not at all the case. The Spurs took a plummet to a low that they are unfamiliar with this season. It’s one thing to come out one night and lay an egg. Even of the best of teams come out and just have off-nights. But for your team to come out and consistently not perform against some of the league’s worst competition is just unacceptable. This team looks uninspired and it’s really troublesome to see. Never in recent history do I remember a Popovich-coached team that looked so defeated.
The Spurs currently sit at the seven seed and there’s no doubt that they can still put things together but it’s going to take an unprecedented effort. Guys are going to have to dig deep within themselves so that they dig themselves out of the huge hole that they have created—a hole that is larger than any other hole they’ve ever faced.
Point of Comparison
The Spurs have had a down year no doubt and this has been tough to see and painful to watch. Nevertheless, I am a numbers guy and I can’t help but to turn my attention to the glaring comparisons, or rather lack thereof, when you stack this year against the likes of the past half-decade. To no one’s surprise, this year is something of an anomaly compared to the previous seasons. Without any further ado, let’s dive on in…
28—26—24—19—23
Losses in each of the past five seasons. The Spurs currently sit at 23 notches in the loss column, a mark unmatched in the past five seasons. As of February 24 in each of the past five years, the Spurs have not been anywhere close to 23 losses (17, 17, 18, 12, 16). It’s truly unchartered territory and the Spurs are in desperate need of a turnaround.
15—19—14—12—20
Road losses in each of the past five seasons. While many teams have a homecourt advantage, winning on the road is what typically separates the elite from the middle-class. The Spurs have prided themselves in their ability to win away from the AT&T Center and this has not been demonstrated nearly as well this season. The Spurs currently sit at thirteen road losses which is far and away more than they typically have at this point in the season—heck in 2006-07 they didn’t accumulate 13 road losses the entire season. The Spurs are going to have to learn how to win on the road more consistently especially (as we’ll see next) if they end up part of the bottom four seeds in the Western Conference.
3—3—3—1—2
The Spurs’ playoffs seeds of the past five seasons. If the Playoffs started today, the Spurs would be slotted as the seventh seed in the West. The last time the Spurs were not in the top four seeds and consequently did not have homecourt advantage was Tim Duncan’s rookie season in 97-98. To be scratching and clawing to stay afloat as the seven seed is unfamiliar territory to say the least for this historically elite franchise.
13—7—10—7—3
Home losses in each of the past five seasons. One of the fundamental parts of the playoffs is homecourt advantage. Teams work their way through the tumultuous season in hopes to of having the all important homecourt advantage come playoffs. A team that is no stranger to going deep into the playoffs, such as the Spurs, realizes the importance of taking care of business and winning home games. When you are the low-seed you can’t afford to lose on your home hardwood. With 10 home losses already, the Spurs are really going to need to step it up. A home win tonight against a streaking Oklahoma City Thunder would a step in the right direction.
So far, this season has been nothing but ordinary—Popovich giving minutes to a rookie, the Spurs spending money in the off-season, the list goes on. But clearly there have been several negatives as well this season. If the Spurs are serious about contending, they’ll need to turn it around for this stretch run of the final 28 games.
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